I’ve always had a fondness for the high gloss all in one audio boxes of Swiss Geneva Lab. They just look stunning! And the way the digital displays always illuminate from behind the speaker grill just makes me smile. So of course i couldn’t resist featuring the new tiny clamshell bluetooth, alarm clock, radio speaker ~ Geneva Sound System XS… and when they offered to send one over so i could check out the audio and packaging first hand ~ i couldn’t resist! So full unboxing on the next page… all the tiny design details in the packaging and design…

Ok this 12th giveaway is kind of incredible. I mean they all are, but this one… wow. You can’t even buy what they are giving away… Kidrobot Black is an amazing collaboration between Kidrobot, toy designers, and our favorite non-color color, black. In their words:

“In the color restrained world of Kidrobot Black, artists transcend current confines of technique and expression to both innovate in existing formats and promote the exploration of new ones. Kidrobot Black thrives on the untried, the unexpected, and the unusual.

Forging pieces that feature primarily black materials with minimal secondary highlights, Kidrobot Black frees the artist of the complications derived from color. These limitations compel artists to surpass the norms of material and form, and push past the line between consumer product and art, as well as between object and design.

Featuring darker themes inherent to the medium, and available in only limited quantities, Kidrobot Black distinctively unites higher and lower forms of expression as it draws production to the brink of unique.”

As for this giveaway ~ they are giving away not one, but TWO of their limited editions. Both of which have been sold out for some time now (and these things go FAST!) So one lucky winner has another chance to add these two lovelies to their collection. The Goddess by Doze Green is one of 200, and The Deek by Jeff Soto is one of 150!

I’ve been lost in the world of light writing photography tonight which led me down the path to incredible artists and photographers using light to paint other worldly images in the dark… one of the most incredible standouts is German photographer, Jan Leonardo Wöllert. He photographs a world of “choreographed light” combined with low light photography to create glowing spheres, curves, and changign the way you view these dark spaces… and even created LAPP - Light Art Performance Photography in 2007. Take a peek at some of my favorites of his work on the next page!

Bronze Bones! I don’t think dominoes have ever made me swoon… until now. Leave it to The World’s Best Ever’s Dave to dream up something so spectacularly lust worthy! “The first collaboration between The Principals and The World’s Best Ever looks to redefine the domino as a unique geometry, crafted from a more substantial material: bronze. The weight, shape and numbering have been refined, resulting in an original design that retains the spirit of the domino while capitalizing on its serial potential as an artistic object.” From the naming (Bronze Bones!) to the packaging (who doesn’t love anything hidden away in a BOOK?) to the material choice (bronze!) to the thoughtful inclusion of a pencil, sharpener, and paper to keep score (white pencil + black paper of course)… it’s all incredible. Take a look at the details on the next page!

HA! That’s the first impression i just had unboxing this surprise from Intel that just arrived. Second impression was… wow, someone got to have a lot of fun laser etching! In a big box is tucked a laser etched Intel plastic box… which had what looked like a HUGE laptop in it. I’ll admit it, i was half awake, opened it, and thought, “WTF? I thought this was about super lights!” Then i opened the giant battery-less laptop and literally laughed. They hid the Acer S3 13” Ultrabook INSIDE it. Cute, silly, unexpected, and totally proved their point. Oh, and quickly back to the laser etching fun ~ they etched the screen of the “fake” big laptop… and also the whole cover of the ultrabook!

Anyhow, the 11” macbook air changed the way i work and travel a few years back ~ and i’m seldom far from it. I have loved that i can even pop it in my purse on the go. I never thought i’d convert from 15” macbook pro’s to it! So i’ve been intrigued by the windows machines that started going down the same path ~ and there’s been a lot of buzz floating around the “ultrabooks”, especially the prices sliding down this holiday season (this one actually slides under the 1k mark!)… There’s something fun about grabbing a laptop that feels like a magazine in size practically ~ and having barely touched a windows machine in a while, but needing it for the randomest of tasks lately (including playing with/installing Logitech security systems to monitor the crazy backyard creatures of the night), this is perfect to complement my macbook air… just playing around with it, it feels silly that carrying both of them together still feels lighter than my old macbook pros!

Anyhow ~ while i experiment with the world of Windows ~ take a peek on the next page at the fun unboxing of this Intel package ~ and side by sides between the giant faux laptop case it came in, the ultrabook itself, and my 11” air on the next page!

Wejetset always spoils us with such generous giveaways ~ one lucky winner each year gets a chance to win quite the getaway bundle that is prepared to take you around the world at the drop of a hat! Giveaway #11 includes everything from the weekender for your hand-carry to the poly carbonate roller for the big stuff… to the dopp kit for toiletries including the awesome OhSo Toothbrush… and even travel chopsticks so you’ll never be without utensils on the go… with an ipad case to keep your gadgets handy ~ and travel adapter… the question becomes, where to go next? And you’ll also have 3 travel guides to help get you acclimated when you get there!

For a chance to win the Jack Spade Waxed Wool Flag Tote from Revolve Clothing, leave a comment with your go to holiday party essential before midnight PST on Dec 9th, 2011 and we’ll notify the winner by email! Take a closer look at the Jack Spade bag on the next page as well as a peek at our curated Revolve Holiday Boutique on the next page!

For giveaway #9, i’m so excited to have some classics from our old friends at Bittersweets NY! You have a chance to win my favorite Silver Sword Necklace (yes ~ a silver cast of the classic plastic cocktail sword!) and Silver Mano Cufflinks ~ which i suppose could be a his and hers bundle (necklace for her, and cufflinks for him), but both could be for either? SO…

For a chance to win the Silver Sword Necklace and Silver Mano Cufflinks from Bittersweets NY, leave a comment with which you would keep for yourself, and who you would share the other with before midnight PST on Dec 8th, 2011 and we’ll notify the winner by email! (Bonus coupon on the next page!)

Giveaway #8 will have 8 winners! (I swear i didn’t plan this ~ but only just noticed the coincidence when writing this up!) Our friends at Incase branched into audio this year ~ and we’re excited to be giving away 3 sets of the over the head Reflex Headphones as well as 5 sets of the in ear Capsule Headphones. Additionally they’ve just launched a new series of Warhol iPhone Cases ~ so each of the Capsule Headphone winners will get one of those as well!

Himalayan river highways, sleeping beauty’s castle and amazing ways to start your new year are all a part of this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

Giveaway #7 is from our friends at Uncommon Goods ~ who have literally something unexpectedly delightful for everyone on your list! You can even see my gift guide of randomness on their site!) And they are giving away a fun bundle of goodies for your phone , iphone/ipad/kindle ~ and even some evolutionary erasers! Whether the winner shares with friends or keeps all the goods to themselves ~ is up to them!

This featured video series on beautiful visual inspiration is brought to you by FIAT! Thank you FIAT for your support of NOTCOT!

First things first, if you haven’t seen it, you must check out Corridor Digital’s mini films. They are action and effects filled, and often have fun gaming references, but really they will suck anyone in! In their latest, “Brush With Death” they literally bring street art to life! They even include the classic cartoon move ~ jumping in and out of painted DOORS! Gorgeously shot around LA ~ check it out below!